Cleaning device



April 6, 1943. w. H. TAYLOR CLEANING DEVICE Filed Feb. 26, 1940 Patented Apr. 6, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLEANING DEVICE William Hugh Taylor, Martin County, Tex.

Application February 26, 1940, Serial No. 320,861

'7 Claims.

Overflow canals of lavatories which hav been in use for some time without cleaning, usually contain much offensive filth. On account of the irregular shape of an overflow canal, the small inlet openings in the side of the overflow canal, and the position of the outlet openin below the surface of the lavatory basin, it is difficult to clean all sides of the overflow canal with swabs, with a rigid tube or a flimsy tube.

The proper flexibility of the tube of this cleaning device is an important feature, therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a tube of a suflicient flexibility and a limited flexibility with respect to an overflow canal as hereinafter explained.

It is another object of the invention to provide a flexible tube without a long rigid portion at its forward end, to aid the tube in making turns.

It is a further object to keep the outside diameter of the tube, at said rigid point substantially the same as the outside diameter of the other part of the tube, so as not to interfere with operation in a narrow passage.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a rounded forward end to the cleaning device to prevent hanging while moving in a longitudinal forward direction on rough objects of metal sometimes found on walls of an overflow canal.

Heretofore, in supplying nozzles to flexible meta1 tubes it has been customary to make a separate nozzle then attach it to the tube. It is a further object of the invention to provide suitable outlet facilities to the flexible tube in a less expensive way.

It is a further object to provide strengthening means for the tube in the region of the discharge mouth.

It is a further object to provide an armor for reenforced strength at the back end of the tube so as to afford protection against a possible accidental side pull on the cleaner tube while the cleaning device is attached to a rigidly fixed faucet.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a tube of a size small enough to operate easily in an overflow canal through its mouth and to convey sufficient amounts of water, under ordinary city pressure, to perform a practical job of cleaning in the overflow canal.

The invention will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a lavatory and an overflow canal with the cleaning device inserted in the overflow canal and connected to a faucet.

Figure 2 shows a partial sectional view of the cleaning device connected to a faucet.

Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of the forward end of the cleaning device.

Figure 4 shows an enlarged sectional view of the forward .end of the cleaning device.

Figure 5 shows a forward portion of the cleaning device as making a turn in a cross connection of plumbing to enter into a pipe at substantially right angles to the lavatory drain pipe through which it entered.

The cleaning device is especially adapted to the interior cleaning of overflow canals of lavatories.

The tube I, Figure 1, is so constructed as to have a capacity of flexibility and a limited flexibility. The capacity of flexibility is great enough to permit it to make the necessary bends to enter the overflow canal 4 through the inlet mouth 5 and extend to the outlet mouth 6 of the curved overflow canal 4; and it is of a limited flexibility so that under normal conditions, it will not bend in a lateral direction far enough within the overflow canal 4 to prevent a longitudinal back and forth movement of the tube I. The wall 1 and the other respective walls of the overflow canal 4 serve to limit the lateral movement of the tube I. With the capacity of flexibility and the limited flexibility the tube I can be easily worked back and forth in a longitudinal direction with the hand holding the tube I near the mouth entered with the water turned on during a cleaning operation. If some overflow canals have the inlet mouth 5 too small to admit the tube I, the tube I can be inserted through the outlet mouth I9 of the lavatory basin 20 through the outlet mouth 6 int the overflow canal 4. A reason for not having a bulky forward end of the tube I is that without a bulky portion the tube can enter a smaller inlet mouth 5 of an overflow canal and allow the tube I to be of a size large enough toconvey ample supply of water for practical cleaning during operation of the cleaning device. The inlet mouth 5, Figure l, is usually more convenient to operate through than the outlet mouth 6.

In Figure 2', is shown the tube I surrounded by a flexible armor 2; the armor 2 strengthens the tube I and gives protection against a possible accidental side pull while the cleaning device is connected to the faucet 2I, while the faucet 2| extends deeply into the connecting means 3. The upper end of the armor 2 is secured to the upper end of the tube I and loosely surrounds the tube I below the ferrule I9 of the connecting means 2. The upper ends of the tube I and the armor 2 are secured to the means 3 for connecting to the faucet 21 by a resilient member I8.

In Figure 3, at 8 is shown a rounded plug secured in the forward end of the tube I. The tube I has a side discharge mouth 9 near the plug 8. The discharge mouth 9 is cut preferably at a Substantially parallel position to the strip 22 of the spirally wound tube I so as not to cut the strip 22 in two as might occur in case of a narrow strip 22 or a wide mouth 9. If desired, instead of having the one mouth 9, several openings can be provided around the tube I near the plug 8, or the forward end of the tube I may be left open for the discharge mouth. The forward end of the tube I may be coated with the adhering, strengthening material for reinforcement and to keep the tube I from raveling out. The one mouth 9, as shown, is suitable, however, for when the water under ordinary city pressure, (as is intended to be used with this cleaning device) is discharged with force against the side of the overflow canal 6 and rushes swiftly to other parts of the overflow canal 4, in the vicinity of the discharge mouth 9, the water aided by force removes the filth from the walls of the overflow canal 4 and carries it out through the lavatory drain pipe I5. By working the tube I back and forth, moving the discharge mouth 9 about in the overflow canal 4, the canal 4 can be cleaned at II extends all the way around on the inside of the tube I. The line I2 represents the termination point of said strengthening material extending from the back of the plug 8. The tube I, Figure 4, has a coat of strengthening material adhering to its outside and extending around the tube I from the plug 8 and back and terminates substantially even with the termination point of the inside strengthening material. The coat of strengthening material is thin so as not to :increase the outside diameter enough to essentially affect a longitudinal back and forth movement of the tube I in a narrow passage.

If a closer uniformity of the outside diameter of the tube I is desired, the portion of adhering, strengthening material can be removed by a revolving emery wheel, or other means, from the outside of the wound strip 22, Figure 3, leaving the portion in the joint 23 and 23a.

It is to be understood that the flexible tube I is made substantially rigid from the forward end to the termination point of the adhering strengthening material; this is not a long rigid portion in the flexible tube I.

By supplying the tube I with a discharge mouth at one side. as explained, this cleaning device has an additional use as shown in Figure 5. The tube I is shown entered through a cleanout hole I4 of the lavatory trap, extending through the lavatory drain pipe I5 into a cross connection I6. It can readily be seen that with water, under pressure, being discharged at the mouth 9, Figure 5, the forward end of the tube I will flex back and can be pushed into the pipe I3 at right angles to the pipe I5, from which it extends. It can also be readily understood that by the same principle the forward end of the tube I can be directed into a horizontal drain pipe at right angles to the drain pipe I5 from which it extends, as in a side inlet T. Horizontal pipes are apt to accumulate a partial or total obstruction and need cleaning.

It can be further understood that with the water shut off from the tube I, the tube I can be inserted from the lavatory drain pipe I5, Figure 5, through the cross connection I 6 into the drain pipe II. After the discharge mouth 9 has entered the drain pipe H, the water can be turned on and the tube I can be worked forward and backward in a cleaning operation.

As in Figure 5, knowledge of which pipe the tube I has entered can be determined by using water of a different temperature from the temperature of the pipes, and by feeling the outside of the pipes after the water has started to run from the tube I.

Drain pipes of a lavatory are of somewhat a near size as those of an overflow canal; therefore the cleaning device constructed for cleaning of overflow canals can usually be employed as illustrated in Figure 5.

In manufacturing the cleaning device, saw blades can be arranged in a position so as to cut the mouth 9 and to cut the tube I off by a single operation.

The plug 3, Figure 4, is moulded of lead, or other suitable material to the forward end of the tube I. The tube I is coated with the adhering strengthening material at the same operation by dipping the tube I into a molten metal to the depth that the metal reaches point I2, the molten metal runs intothe tube I through the mouth 9 to the bottom of a mould at the end of the tube I. When the tube and the mould are raised out of the molten metal, the opposite end of the tube I can be blown into, thereby forcing the surplus molten metal out at the mouth 9 to a level with the bottom portion of the mouth 9; the tube being held in a vertical position during the operation. This is a very inexpensive method of supplying a suitable discharge mouth and a closed rounded end to the tube I.

It is to be understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is hereinafter claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A cleaning device of the class described, comprising a flexible tube with a closure plug secured in the forward end, said closure plug having a substantially round nose to oppose hanging of the forward end of the tube while moving forward in a cleaning operation, a lateral discharge mouth located in the region of the forward end and means secured to the opposite end for connecting to a water supply.

2. A cleaning device of the class described, comprising a flexible tube with a closed forward end, a lateral discharge mouth in the region of said closed end, said tube being treated with a strengthening material in the region of said discharge mouth and means secured to the opposite end for connecting to a water supply.

3. A cleaning device, adapted to the cleaning of overflow canals of lavatories, comprising a tube of desired length, having semi-flexibility, substantially uniform diameter at the outside extremities to prevent wedging in a longitudinal movement and being of a size and flexibility that the tube will operatively extend through an overflow canal mouth and substantially to the farthest end of the overflow canal from the mouth entered of the type of overflow canal shown, said tube having flexibility of a limited capacity to prevent the tube from kinking 0r doubling between the walls of said overflow canal while being Pushed forward in a cleaning operation, said tube being conveyable of substantially full volume of liquid and having a discharge mouth at the forward end, semi-flexibility extending forward to the region of said discharge mouth and means secured to the opposite end for connecting to a faucet.

4. A cleaning device adapted to cleaning overflow canals of lavatories, comprising a tube of desired length, having semi-flexibility, substantially uniform diameter at the outside extremities to prevent wedging in a longitudinal movement and being of a size and flexibility that the tube will operatively extend through an overflow canal mouth and to the region of the farthest end of the overflow canal from the mouth entered of the type of overflow canal shown; said tube has flexibility of limited capacity to prevent it from kinking or doubling between the walls of said overflow canal while being pushed forward in a cleaning operation; said tube has a plug secured in the forward end; said plug has a substantially round nose to oppose hanging of the forward end of the tube while moving forward; said tube has a plurality of openings directly behind said plug as described for discharging water, semi-flexibility of the tube extends forward nearby to the discharge openings, said tube is capable of conveying substantially full volume of liquid and has means secured to the opposite end for connecting to a faucet.

5. A cleaning device adapted to cleaning overflow canals of lavatories, comprising a tube of desired length having semi-flexibility, substantially uniform diameter at the outside extremities to prevent wedging in a longitudinal movement and being of a size and flexibility that the tube will operatively extend through an overflow canal mouth and substantially to the farthest end of the overflow canal from the mouth entered of the type of overflow canal shown; said tube having flexibility of a limited capacity to prevent the tube from kinking or doubling between the walls of said overflow canal while being pushed forward in a cleaning operation; said tube having a discharge mouth at its forward end and being treated with strengthening material at said discharge mouth, as described, to prevent raveling of the tube, semi-flexibility extending forward substantially to said strengthening material and near to said discharge mouth; said tube being conveyable of substantially full volume of liquid and having means secured to its opposite end for connecting to a faucet.

6. In combination, a lavatory overflow canal having curved walls, an inlet and an outlet mouth and a tube of desired length, having semi-flexibility, substantially uniform diameter at its outside extremities to prevent the tube from wedging in a longitudinal movement and being of a size and flexibility that the tube will operatively extend through the overflow canal mouth and substantially to the farthest end of the overflow canal from the mouth entered of the type of overflow canal shown; said tube having flexibility of a limited capacity to prevent the tube from kinking or doubling between the walls of said overflow canal while being pushed forward in a cleaning operation; said tube being conveyable of substantially full volume of liquid and having a discharge mouth at the forward end; the semi-flexibility extends forward to the region of said discharge mouth and means is secured to the opposite end of the tube for connecting to a faucet.

7. A cleaning device of the class described, comprising a flexible tube of desired length, the forward end of said tube being closed and having a discharge mouth in the region of said forward end; said discharge mouth having a lateral location in a manner to cause the forward portion of the tube to bend in a lateral direction by force of water discharging from said discharge mouth to direct the tube into a side opening of a plumbing T or cross; said tube having means secured to the opposite end to connect to a water supply.

WILLIAM HUGH TAYLOR. 

